Modern Blues Harmonica 121: 36 blow octave #1

A lesson on one of the most important tongue-blocked octaves for cross-harping blues players, offered by Adam Gussow of Satan and Adam. The 36 blow octave shows up in Little Walter's "Juke," James Cotton's "Creeper Creeps Again," and many other places. Gussow is using an A harp.

The new blues harp jam tracks CD is available for instant download, featuring Charlie Hilbert on guitar:

http://modernbluesharmonica.cerizmo.com/items/23-modern-blues-harmonica-jam-t...

For a series of skill-graded blues harmonica video tutorials and tab sheets, please visit Modern Blues Harmonica:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Adam
• Gussow
• blues
• harp
• harmonica
• 121
• octave

[harpinholley]

adam, what video cam do you use? great clarity. love the vid. donna

[KudzuRunner]

It's a Sony DCR-TRV280 NTSC. A pretty basic two-year old model.

[ridenhour1]

Another great lesson. any plans on doing a show in Missouri?

[KudzuRunner]

Well, I'm driving up to Chicago in late May and could do a clinic and/or sit in with a band on Wednesday the 21st or Monday the 26th. If you've got some pull w/local players (such as the harmonica club), please contact me.

[asattison]

Adam. where in Chicago and what date. I'm three hrs east of there.MARK

[KudzuRunner]

Old Town School of Folk Music, afternoon of Sunday, May 25th.

[glentruan]

Great lessons thanks - regards Rob Portsmouth England

[1harmonicapete]

@andyli123 Andy, Boiling hot water in a bowl rap it on a towel after blowing an inhalin the notes soak till cool nuff to touch...later,harmonica pete

[NICKFROMESSEX]

Thank you kindly for your reply. I don't supose you could could do some more videos on train time blues and rythums.

Best Wishes

Nick

[7142150]

An alternate use of this riff is Sonnyboy II, "Too Close Together" slightly different, key of F on Bb harp, second position.

[NICKFROMESSEX]

Great playing . May I ask you do you know the song by Sonny Terry called spread this news around . For years now I have been trying to work the harp rythum out .

Would kindly show us how to play it if possible

Thanks alot

Best Wishes

Nick

[kswanson]

It's not the harp, it's you, friend. 2 hole draw is #*$&ing tricky to pick up at first, a lot of people (me included, at one point) think it's their harp that's broken. (I actually went out and bought a new one because I was convinced it was the harp and not me.) Search some of the older posts (try .002) that Adam has and you should find some help on it. On that note (no pun intended) THANK YOU ADAM for WHAT YOU DO!!! I'd have given up on the harp a long time ago if not for you...

[andyli123]

adam, there's a problem with my marine band special 20 C key Harmonica at the 2nd draw, it's like no sound but with a weird sound like a cow and feel like something it's stuck inside, so what should i do?

[leesbo55]

I get way more volume and tone from single note tongue blocking. It just feels more natural to me than pursing. Can bend some too. I have no phrasing, I dont know what to do.